Big Victory: Nickolas Hovey Gets Win, 602 Modified Championship At New Smyrna World Series 

Nickolas Hovey ended his week at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway in doubly perfect fashion Thursday. 

Hovey, of Chaplin, won the 66-lap 602 Modified division feature Thursday and in the process clinched the World Series championship for the division. 

“This is awesome,” Hovey said. “I’ve just got to thank Keith [Rocco] and [Keith Rocco Racing]. … This is just awesome. These guys gave me a great opportunity. I couldn’t have asked for a better car.” 

Hovey closed out his World Series effort for the week winning three of the four 602 Modified features. Hovey won the opening event for the division on Sunday. He was sixth in Monday’s feature before winning the Wednesday and Thursday features. 

Hovey, a regular at Stafford Speedway and Thompson Speedway, came into the the final race tied for second in the standings, six points behind Max Handley. 

Handley, a regular at Riverhead Raceway, led early in the event, but slowed from third place on a restart on lap 14 and retired from the event.

Paul Hartwig Jr. was second and Bobby Jones third.  

Handley controlled out front in the opening laps with Hovey stalking all over him in second. 

The first caution flew on lap five. 

Handley held the top spot on the restart. On lap six Paul Hartwig Jr. joined the battle up front. Hovey got a run on Handley off of turn three. The two made contact on the frontstretch with Handley swerving toward the wall and saving it. It allowed Hovey to move to the lead into turn one. 

The second caution flew on lap 11 for a multi-car wreck in turns one and two. 

On the restart Handley hung on the outside of Hovey in a lap long side-by-side battle. Handley led at the line to complete lap 11. 

The side-by-side battle continued for another lap with Hovey getting back to the front on lap 12 and taking Hartwig to second. 

Caution flew on lap 14 for a multi-car wreck with Hovey leading, Hartwig in second and Handley in third. 

On the lap 14 restart the leaders stacked up slightly coming to green. Hartwig went to the lead past Hovey while behind then Handley slowed and went to the pits. 

After stalking Hartwig for 15 laps, Hovey went back to the lead on lap 29 and never trailed again.